Friction-wheel lighter for solid fuel



Nov. 1, 193;. A. R. HOCHSTRASSER FRICTION WHEEL LIGHTER FOR SQLID FUEL Filed March 24, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE ALFRED R. HOCHSTRASSER, F VIENNA, AUSTRIA FRICTION-WHEEL LIGHTER FOR SOLID FUEL Application filed March 24, 1930, Serial No.

This invention relates to a lighter of the friction wheel type using solid fuel wh1ch is superficially disintegrated by means of a scraping device and ignited by sparks pro- 5 duced b the friction wheel, and consists in the emp oyment for a flexible means of scraping which is capable of adapting itself to the shape of the end of the body of solid fuel in the lighter and against which the sald 30 body of fuel is pressed by means of a spring. For this purpose a fine grating formed of wire or of supple perforated sheet metal is most suitable. The invention is further characterized by the particular manner in whichthe flexible scraping means and the body of solid fuel are independently movable in relation to each other, and by the particular manner in which the scraping means is mounted and actuated. Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent in the course of the specification.

The arrangement of a flexible means for scraping and embracing the end of the body of solid fuel in accordance with the present invention has the advantage over the hitherto known devices of a similar kind, in which the loosening of the uppermost layer of the body of fuel is performed by rigid means of scarification such as needles rakes or the like, that the permanent intimate contact between the scraping means and the fuel en ables the entire surface of the fuel to be uniformly pulverized by a comparatively slight relative movement between the scraping means and the body of fuel. The fine powder thus evenly produced and distributed over the surface of the fuel is more easily ignited by the sparks produced from the cerium iron by the friction wheel of the igniter than the coarse particlesdetached from the solid fuel by the known types of rigid scraping devices. The employment of a grating as flexible scraping means provides the further advantage that the fuel during burning can be kept pressed by means of a 438,599, and in Germany March 26, 1929.

spring against the grating, so that the device is permanently automatically ready for use, and the slightest relative movement between the grating and the fuel is instantly effective in pulverizing the surface of the' fuel. 5 Furthermore the grating causes the powder produced to remain in intimate contact with the surface of the body of fuel, thus ensuring rapid and certain ignition.

Several forms of construction embodying the invention are shown in the drawing, in which Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate diagrammatically two examples of the association of a flexible means .for scraping in the form of a grid with a body of solid fuel, the igniting device proper being omitted, while Figs. 3 to 6 show various methods, by way of example, of mounting and actuating the scraping means, each figure representing a section of a complete lighter. 5 The fuel a (so-called solid spirit or the like) is contained in a tubular compartment 1 within the casing of the lighter, and is pressed outwards by a spring against the flexible scraping means in the form of a grid 3, which adapts itself to the shape of the surface of the fuel and is movable in relation to the body of fuel in any desired manner. As flexible scraping means or grid it is desirable to employ fine wire gauze or pliable perforated sheet metal, which, as shown in Fig. 1, is caused to move in the direction of the two arrows I and II across the surface of the fuel so that, in consequence of the pressure exerted by the spring 2 tending to press the fuel against the scraping means, the soft surface of the fuel is reduced to a floury powder, which exudes through the meshes of the scraping grid and is easily ignited by the spark from a cerium iron igniting device, the flame thus produced then igniting the surface of the fuel a immediately beneath the grid. As shown in Fig. 2 the grid 3 can be stretched and secured over the upper rim of a covering shell or capsule 1 and the solid fuel held in the inner capsule 1 in such a manner that it is locked against independent rotation but can be rotated by hand together with the capsule 1 and under pressure of a spring against the grid. In this case also the surface of the fuel will be loosened 111 the required manner, since only relative movement between scraping means and fuel coupled with pressure exerted by a spring tending to maintain these two elements of the device in permanent contact is necessary for effecting this loosening of the surface of the fuel. In Figs. 3 to 6 four examples of forms of construction for the device according to the invention are shown in sections of complete lighters. In the form shown in Fig. 3 the scraping grid 3 is firmly held between the two stationary points 4 and 5 on the casing 6, and the solid fuel a is contained in a retaining capsule 1, which is capable of oscillating about a pivot 7, a leaf spring 3 tending to force the capsule 1 into the position shown in Fig. 3. A stop pin 9 attached to the capsule 1 co-operates with a plate 10 attached to the lid 11 of the casing in such a manner that, when the lid of the lighter is closed, the capsule 1 containing the fuel is pressed into the vertical position against the action of the spring 8. When the lid 11 of the li l'iter is opened by pressure on the button 12 the spring 8 causes the capsule 1 to be tilted back into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3, whereby the fuel a is pressed by the spring 2 against the grid 3, so that the surface of the fuel is finely grated and the fuel dust thus formed is pressed through the meshes of the grid, whereupon it is ignited by the sparks generated by the co-operation of the jagged wheel 13 with a stick of cerium iron.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 4 the grid 3 is secured to a ring 14 and is cup-shaped. The ring 14 is pivoted so that it can be tilted by the opening of the lid 11 of the lighter, whereby the block of fuel a, which is in this case stationary and pressed by the spring 2 against the grid, is superficially roughened in the manner described. The ring 14 can also take the form of a double armed lever more or less adapted to the shape of the block of fuel. A toothed segment 15 attached to the lid 11 serves for the tilting of the grid by engaging in a pinion connected to the ring or lever 14. The easing 6, which is closed on the under side by a cover 6', contains a storage space for spare fuel a.

In the form of construction shown in Fig. 5 both operationsthe movement of the grid 3 and the ignition of the fuel dust-are automatically effected by the opening of the lid 11 of the lighter. The opening of the lid first liberates the catch 17, which holds spring 19, so that the grid is again tilted as in the example shown in Fig. 4, while the further movement of the lid 11 in opening rotates the jagged wheel 13 by means of the toothed se ment 20, as in the ordinary cerium iron gaso to commerce.

In the example of a form of construction shown in Fig. 6 the grid 3 is rigidly attached at one point 21 to the casing, and at the opposite side to a button 22 projecting throu h a slit in the casing 6. The button 22 can moved in the direction shown by the arrows in the drawing by means of the finger or thumb, and effects the movement of the id 3 across the end of the block of fuel, w ich is at the same time pressed down to the necessagy extent against the action of the spring 2. or the purpose of retaining the tension of the spring 2 adjusting devices can be provided in the casing 6, by means of which the consumption of the fuel and consequent relaxation of the spring 2 can be compensated for.

The precise manner in which the relative movement between the grid 3 and the solid fuel a is brought about is immaterial and the forms of construction shown in the drawing are intended to serve merely as examples of possible modifications. For the purpose of carrying out the invention the grid 3 can be made of uniform strands (e. g. steel wire) or of thin sheet metal, or of soft material interwoven with thin steel wire. The se arate strands of the grid can also be provi ed with rasping teeth on the under side, so that the term grid as herein employed is intended to cover all flexible means capable of scraping the surface of the solid fuel so that a powder is formed therefrom, and of permitting the powder thus formed to pass through the perforations or meshes of the said means.

I declare that what I claim is:-

1. A friction wheel li hter including a member for containing soIid fuel, a flexible scraping member arranged across the containing member and embracing the end of the fuel therein, means for yieldingly holding the scraping member and fuel in engagement with each other, and means for moving one of the members relative to the other.

2. A friction wheel lighter including a solid fuel containing member, a flexible scraping member embracing the end of the fuel, means for mounting one of said members so that it is capable of moving relative to the other, and spring means within the containing member for yieldingly holdin the fuel against the scraping member an said scraping member acting as a stop for the fuel against the action of said spring means.

3. A friction wheel lighter comprising a inc-lighters already known the lever 18 together with the grid 3 at ssolid fuel container, spring means within the tached thereto against the tension of the container for yieldingly holding the solid fuel forwardly of the container, a frame rockably mounted about the container, a flexible scraping member in the form of a grid arranged across the outer end of the fuel and acting as a stop for the fuel against the action of the sprmg and having its ends secured on opposite ends of the frame, means acting on one end of the frame in a horizontal position, and spring means acting on the other end of the frame to effect movement of the frame and grid relative to the fuel in the container when the frame is released.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALFRED R. HOCHSTRASSER. 

